Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation for refractory scar-related ventricular tachycardia

Background: Recently, stereotactic radiosurgery has been applied to arrhythmias (stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation [STAR]), with promising results reported in patients with refractory scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT), a cohort with known high morbidity and mortality.

Objective: Herein, we describe our experience with STAR, detailing its early and mid- to long-term results.

Methods: This is a pilot prospective study of patients undergoing STAR for refractory scar-related VT. The anatomical target for radioablation was defined on the basis of the clinical VT morphology, electroanatomic mapping, and study-specific preprocedural imaging with cardiac computed tomography. The target volume was treated with a prescription radiation dose of 25 Gy delivered in a single fraction by CyberKnife in an outpatient setting. Ventricular arrhythmias and radiation-related adverse events were monitored at follow-up to determine STAR efficacy and safety.

Results: Five patients (100% men; mean age 63 ± 12 years; 80% with ischemic cardiomyopathy; left ventricular ejection fraction 34% ± 15%) underwent STAR. Radioablation was delivered in 82 ± 11 minutes without acute complications. During a mean follow-up of 12 ± 2 months, all patients experienced clinically significant mid- to late-term ventricular arrhythmia recurrence; 2 patients died of complications associated with their advanced heart failure. There were no clinical or imaging evidence of radiation-induced complications in the organs at risk surrounding the scar targeted by radioablation.

Conclusion: Despite good initial results, STAR did not result in effective arrhythmia control in the long term in a selected high-risk population of patients with scar-related VT. The safety profile was confirmed to be favorable, with no radiation-related complications observed during follow-up. Further studies are needed to explain these disappointing results.